138 FLY FISHING FOR TROUT. 



any other colour in the world and quite different 

 from the grass of summer. Ever since January 

 the water has been let in to trickle among the 

 roots of the herbage, and now when ordinary 

 fields have not begun growing the water- 

 meadows have a thick crop. The sheep will 

 soon be penned on it and their busy teeth will 

 eat every scrap down to the roots, until the field 

 looks a faded yellow. Then the water will be 

 run in again, and in June the haymakers will 

 be at work. 



As April runs into May, the valley changes 

 greatly. It becomes green everywhere; so of 

 course do other landscapes, but its special 

 character is that it shews so many different 

 shades of green, and shews them all together. 

 The yellow green of the young willows, the 

 bright green of the reeds, the blue green of the 

 iris, the vivid green of some water weeds — 

 these are seen simultaneously. But perhaps 

 the chief cause of the valley's beauty is reflected 

 light. Light is reflected at all angles off the 

 glancing water, and gives the leaves an airy and 

 translucent appearance, which you do not get 

 elsewhere. May too is the month of the haw- 

 thorn, and thorn trees flourish particularly well 

 on the chalk. Then also the birds come, and 

 sedge and reed warblers make the banks 

 musical. Opinions will differ as to whether 

 May or June is the best month. May has the 

 charm of novelty not yet worn off, but June has 

 that of perfect fulfilment. And to the chalk- 



